In a finale that was watched by an average of 14 million people, Candice Brown was named the winner of The Great British Bake Off 2016.

Just a few weeks later, after a press tour with fellow finalists Jane Beedle and Andrew Smyth, Candice announced that she had returned to her job as a PE teacher, insisting that her life had remained very “normal” despite her newfound fame.

Now, however, she has made the “agonising” decision to put her teaching career on hold, in a bid to pursue her baking dreams.

The Bake Off star, who works closely with children who have special needs, continued: “My headteacher told me: ‘You've got to do this, you can't do it half-heartedly. I wouldn't forgive myself if you missed out. It's not that we don't want you here but you have to give it 100%. If we can't encourage our staff to follow their dreams and inspire, then we are not doing our job properly. You are showing the kids that anything is possible.’”

Despite admitting she is worried about what will come next, Candice added that she is counting her lucky stars that she has been so inundated with offers since being crowned this year’s GBBO winner.

As such, she has signed up with a team of TV agents – and is looking forward to the next chapter in her career.

“I cannot thank everybody enough for giving me this amazing opportunity and for my school letting me grab it with both hands and running with it,” she said.